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Capital, The (Newspaper) - March 12, 1995, Annapolis, Maryland
Area firms find gold in green Bl TERPS J JLP Lose overtime thriller to North Carolina 97-92 Cl ACC final was Just out of reach ofTerps. Arundel girls fall Cl Nursery head quits MARCH I was defending this young I would take this matter before a GM Annapofe lawyer decision is like the decision Judge Lerner has to make Alan R. public defender Convicted slayer has death By BRIAN WHEELER Staff Writer From the moment he killed two lawyers in their weekend home near Scotland Eugene Williams has done little that made sense. He drank from a glass at the couple's leaving behind key DNA evidence He was seen on a bank automated teller machine leading to his arrest. whenever under the glare of TV he breaks into creating the image of an unrepentant killer. But Williams may have saved his most puzzling action for a courtroom audience last week. Despite his lawyers' he insisted Thurs- day that one of the county's toughest judges Williams' life in hands of tough not a jury not a 12-person jury decide whether he will receive the death penalty. think his lawyers are absolutely right in what they're said Gill an Annapolis lawyer familiar with the case. I was defending this young I would defi- nitely take this matter before a When sentencing in the extraordinary case begins the Arnold resident's life will be placed in the hands of Circuit Court Judge Eugene M Lerner. It is the first time in recent history-that a local judge has been asked to decide on whether a criminal should die Lerner is one of the toughest judges on the bench down here Mr. Cochran said. was convicted of the May slayings of Julie N. Gilbert and Jose E Trias on Thursday. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and 12 related charges. The Arnold resident can realistically expect no less than a punishment of life in prison Now in his 16th year on the Judge Lerner has carved out a reputation as one of the county's strictest judges Whether presiding over high-profile or more mundane the former Annapolis city attorney frequently hands down sentences that approach the maximum recommended by sen- tencing guidelines in argued against attempts by a statewide panel this year to hand down guide- lines that lowered the penalties for most serious crimes. But just what will happen to Williams when he appears before Judge Lerner next week is anybody's guess Despite the attention they death penalty cases are exdeedmgly rare in Mary- and few say they can predict a defendant's fate Prosecutors seek The Capital punishment in onlj about 14 cases each and just 12 convictec murderers are now sitting on death sale Thomas J head of the state Public Defender's Office The Capital punishment division. Even more rare are cases in which of whether to kill a defendant with a judge. Judge Lerner said he his never made such a decision. Page A look at previous death penalty cases In the county. A9 No officers available for 911 cafl By P.J. SHUEY Staff Writer A call for help from a woman who was beaten in Glen Burnie Thursday proved one call too many for county who discovered all available officers were in court. Fire Department paramedics who were sent to aid the woman at an apartment building on Glen Ridge Circle repeatedly asked for police support. Police told them to use because none was coming. working on getting an officer up there when you a Fire Department dispatcher asked according to a recording of the incident. I but right now every single soli- tary officer I have is in a por lice dispatcher re- sponded. Capt. Gary Northern District comman- said seven of- the major- ity of those as- signed to the were in court at the time of the call. The first officer ar- rived almost 40 minutes after the initial call. Because it was not a top-priority with lives at stake or weapons the shift commander on duty did not pull officers off lower-priority calls or from other he said. indication I have is that when first called she was not at the scene but was at a nearby pa'y Capt. Barr said. bad guy wasn't He said he would review the call with personnel but said he was confident that police handled it properly. The incident began when neighbors had reported a domestic disturbance at a.m. a routine call for police. Two minutes a 26-year-old woman called 911 from a pay phone located dbwn the street from her apartment She said she had been beaten and and then returned to the apartment. When paramedics they did not enter the apart- ment building. Battalion Chief J. Gary county Fire Depart- ment said that paramedics would not enter assault scenes without police assistance. ___________ 911. Page Transcript of county transmissions. A9 naumntn n MUCK gave us a call for Wellham Avenue. Are you guys en route' It's an POUCEMtf I don't have a single fellow to send After fire dispatchers check again. have absolutely and I checked with state and they don't have anybody CITY LAW BARS TAXI DRIVERS FROM SAYING NO By t. Henwn Cipttd During ths course of Ms cab driver Charles Martinez of liw been robbed and stabbed wMs working to Annapolis. A etty law ban taxi companies from refusing a even hi hlgh-crlmo areas. A similar proposal to under consideration for food delivery services. few bad eggs' put H local cabbies at risk By MARY ELLEN LLOYD StaffWriter Robbed four times and stabbed Charles Martinez can sympathize with pizza deliverers who don't want to make stops in some Annapolis-area neighborhoods. The 29-year-old taxicab driver was stabbed at 1 a.m. one Thanksgiving alter picking up two 15 and 16 on Belle Drive in Annapolis. Yet the city prohibits taxi companies from refusing a call when there's a car if it's a call to neighborhoods with histories of robberies. So by Mr. Martinez must go to any community at any hour to offer anyone a ride In the dark seat behind hint taking a chance alt the time. There are no Of there are no guarantees in Doris local cab driver taking a chance all the said Doris a driver at Colonial Arundel Taxi with nearly six years experience. are no guarantees. Of there are no guarantees in Ms. Wise and other cab drivers said a majority of their customers are honest people trying to get to stores or other places. just a few bad eggs that make everything bad for Ms Wise said. Robert a Robinwood resident who is himself a cab has circulated a petition calling for a city law prohibiting restaurants from refusing to deliver in some neighborhoods. The city's Human Relations Commission is also investigating complaints the food companies discriminate by their actions. it's crime that's the then let's sit down and solve said Mr. who has never been robbed. Cab drivers and delivery drivers accept their jobs knowing the and like Page Put Cook back in the classroom By THERESA WINSLOW Staff Writer A hearing examiner has recommended that Northeast High School science teacher Laurie S. Cook b allowed to return to the sources said. The Annapolis attorney William M Ferris presided over a series of public hearings over whether Ms Cook should be fired for allegedly seducing a 14-year-ok student. The hearings ended in January The school board will vote on Mr Ferris' recommendations but no members knew exactly when the matter would be resolved. They were given copies of the report last but all refused to comment. hopeful it will be at either of the board's next two said attor- ney P Tyson who represents Superintendent Carol S. Parham. hopeful it will be one or the The board's next two meetings are scheduled for Wednesday night and April 5. Sources said school system officials were unable tc present a convincing case that the teacher was guilty School board members are reportedly divided over what to do Ms Ferris and board members refused to discuss Page COOK SIGNS OF SPRING ByJ CtfKtl Janice Haddock of AnnapoHs soaks up the sun on an Impromptu bench hi front of her Lafayette Today should brbif more sumiyv I weather. Highs couM reach 70 decrees. LOW Mostly sunny today and tomorrow. M Sailing talk America's Cup trials are at mid- point. 'So far. the Australians went beyond an all-women's team has proven to be competitive most America's hold on the Cup seems In di NCW CIA Acting quickly to minimize damage from his latest personnel President Clinton nominated Deputy Defense Secretary John Oeutch as CIA director after his first nominee stepped aside amid legal questions. A3 Angela Nassar is unearthing a bit of the not-so-dlstant past. Back in the 1950s. Tupperware ladies were pioneers along the now vast terrain of home parties. They came long before Mary before Discovery before Amway. II Arundel Report 01 EdftonUi A10-11 Business Bl lottery A4 Cap Owners F17 Movies. E2 Classified Fl-18 A2 3 Comics Gl Obituvtos 02 ................27S-7000
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